and magnanimously, but came late and was ungracious in its circumstances. The officer, moreover, who perpetrated the deed, was honoured and rewarded instead of being hanged.

This storm only blew over that another might be fomented. The United States were at this epoch, the only neutral in the christian world, all other nations were involved in war. France, mistress of the land, and England of the sea. The former, like an imprisoned robber, threw out idle threats from his gratings, that unless neutrals, (meaning the United States) would cease their commerce with England, he would come forth, (where he could not even stir out to gasp a mouthful of fresh air) and deprive them of their goods. England in want of a pretence, cries out, "sir, if you offer to rob this poor honest man, I must retaliate, and rob him myself." Without waiting to see whether the prisoner could get out to execute his threats, she begins the work of pillaging at once. It is very evident that things had come to such a pitch, that both of these nations were in the habit of exercising all the privileges of war towards us, as far as lay in their power, while we were pursuing our policy of peace.

What could we now do? The first and simplest idea which suggested itself, was to stay at home, where we could be more safe than in stirring abroad exposed to be assailed by a tyger or a lion watching for his prey.An embargo was laid; but the experiment of some months, proved that from the great extent of our sea coasts, and the small extent of our patriotism, it could not be enforced. It was therefore taken off, and in place of it a law was passed forbidding all intercourse with France and England. By this means we were still ena

bled to carry on some trade with Spain, the West Indies, and the nations round the Baltic. But we were not long in discovering, that an escape from war was inevitable. Our national character had sunk abroad, and appeared to be sinking at home: and what man or society of men ever prospered, with infamy attached to their reputations? The American was ashamed to own his country while abroad. Throughout the whole nation, the opinion was fast gaining ground, that we must have war. But against which of the belligerents should it be waged? This was the question. We had abundant cause for complaint against both. The vast fleet of England would sweep our little navy from the ocean, and would lay our flourishing cities in ashes. With respect to France, a war would be a mere flourish, for we could neither meet their forces by land or sea, unless we chose to thrust ourselves into the tyger's den. The course adopted by the administration, was perhaps upon the whole the wisest: that was, to leave it to the choice of the belligerents themselves. The ports of the United States were therefore closed against both, but would be opened to that one which would first rescind his obnoxious decrees or orders in council, and then would come the question of peace or war, To these fair and equitable terms England acceded; the French minister formally and solemnly declared to our government, that the Berlin and Milan decrees were repealed: on this being made known to the Prince Regent and the English cabinet, they shuffled and quibbled, and affected to regard the evidence of the repeal on the part of the French insufficient. It was in vain to say that we, the only persons really affected or exposed to injury by their existence, were satisfied: they could not be repealed.

It now became as clear as the light, that nothing fair, candid or honorable was to be looked for by us from England. She basely persisted in the most iniquitous scheme of plunder and oppression, and declined under every species of subterfuge the numerous proffers of the American government to remedy the evils of impressment.

These were not the only causes of irritation against Great Britain. Besides coming in contact with her on the sea, where she harrassed our commerce and kidnapped our fellow citizens, we also came in collision on the land. Our situation with France was materially different, we might shun her if we chose, but not so with England, for if we withdrew from the ocean, she could still harrass us in consequence of our vicinity. From the influence of the fur companies of the North West, all the Indian nations in that quarter were at their disposal, not excepting the nations which resided within the territorial limits of the United States. This influence was liable to abuse, and in fact was continually abused; the poor deluded creatures were wrought upon by presents and artful tales, to become inimical to the Americans. An Indian Chief of uncommon ability had at this time acquired the ascendancy over all the scattered tribes along the lakes, and in the waters of the Ohio. He had been a fierce enemy of the whites since the first settlement of the country, and was one of the most noted warriors that had appeared. The name of this savage was Tecumseh, who was aided by an artful Indian, a kind of high priest or juggler, called the prophet, his brother. The one appealing to superstitious fears, the other commanding respect, and exciting awe, were soon found to be useful tools in the hands of the British.

There is no nation on earth which possesses less of the thirst for conquest or dominion than this confederacy of states. Possessing already by the purchase of Louisiana, a vast accession of territory which will require ages to fill, to what end would be the mere desire of conquest? Such an ambition unconnected with some lawful object can scarcely find its way into the American government. But was it not natural, that there should prevail a wish to secure ourselves from the continual recurrence of Indian warfare? And how do it but by assailing the very root of the evil. Hence, the prevailing wish through the United States of conquering Canada; not from any benefit or advantage which the people or the government might derive; perchance that benefit or advantage, might be to the human race. But could we possess Canada, war would be only known on the ocean, and the coast. Nations if possible ought not to have too near neighbours, if they wish to remain at peace.

In the autumn of eighteen hundred and eleven, serious differences arose between us and the Indians on the Wabash, the ostensible cause of which, was a purchase made by Governor Harrison, of a large tract of land in the Indiana territory, from the Indians. At a treaty near Vincennes, Tecumseh behaved in the most insolent manner, and openly threatened to dig up the tomahawk from under the tree of peace. The hostile deportment of the Indians soon after induced the Governor to call to his aid the 4th Regt. of U. S. infantry, under Col. Boyd, and a body of volunteer militia from Kentucky, besides a small body of militia of Indiana. With these he proceeded up the Wabash with the intention of building a Fort near the Prophet's town, near a branch of the Wabash called Tippacanoe, since become famous. On his

arrival he was met by the Prophet, Winimac, and some other chiefs, who professed to be peaceably disposed, requested him to encamp for the day and promised to come the next morning and hold a council of peace. With this request the Governor complied, unsuspicious of their treachery. Towards morning the Indians led on by Winimac suddenly assailed the camp, having killed the centinels with arrows. They were received with great resolution, but were not repulsed until after a bloody conflict of two hours, in which the Americans lost upwards of one hundred and eighty in killed and wounded, among whom were many valuable officers. Col. Davis, one of the first men in Kentucky, or perhaps in this country was among the slain. Col Boyd and the 4th acquired much honour. The loss of the Indians was estimated at one hundred and fifty. These misguided people soon after sued for peace, which was granted. But through the instigation of the British, the Prophet and Tecumseh soon after renewed hostilities, by murdering several families on the frontiers. The war which was about to break forth in this quarter soon after merged into more important events, and which it is the business of this presented narrative to detail.